Page 63 of Brides and Brothers
Chapter 27
Camille
The next evening, after Camillehad caught up on housework, she curled up on the couch to finish readingEmma. Apparently, not all matchmaking ended well. Should Camille be worried? The story was making her second-guess her glimpse of hope from the night before. She punched a pillow and shoved it behind her back. She was just getting into her book again when Easton walked in. He had a bowl of popcorn in one arm and a textbook in the other.
“Big test, huh?” Camille asked.
“Yep,” Easton said. “Nothing like cramming.”
“You’ve been busy.”
Easton nodded. “Between school and work, I shouldn’t have gone over to Wendy’s house last night—you know, that girl I just started dating. I did not have time for that.”
Was it Camille’s book of choice that made her wish Easton were dating Emma? “I haven’t heard the latest report about Wendy. You two must still be going forward.”
“Yeah, we’re still trying to figure it out. Her personality is a little unpredictable, and I can’t ever guess what she’s thinking.”
Camille bit her lip to keep from smiling. “Aren’t all women a little like that?”
Easton eyed her. “You should know.”
“Me?” Camille put her hand to her heart. “I never go all moody or weird on Aiden. Only every other time I talk to him.”
Easton rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t help me. You’re supposed to give me relationship advice.”
“I can tell you how to treat a woman right, but I can’t tell you if she’ll make the cut. That’s between you and God.”
Easton focused on the fireplace at the end of the room. “I haven’t ever dated seriously. None of us have. With Aiden married, following his lead feels like the natural thing to do.”
Camille slid her bookmark into place and shut her book. “You’re feeling the pressure. When I was twenty-one, I wanted nothing more than to get married. With every year that passed, I became increasingly discouraged that my chances of meeting Mr. Right were slim to none. It wasn’t necessarily so, but in my limited perspective, it felt like it. I wish I could tell everyone not to lose hope on getting married, because the Lord’s plan might take a lifetime to unfold, but it’s ten zillion times better than what we could plan for ourselves. Aiden was worth waiting for. So be patient with yourself. It’ll work out if it’s supposed to.”
Easton rubbed his jaw. “I want to make it work with the right one.”
“Put a pea under her bed.” That earned Camille another eye roll, which only encouraged her next answer. “Or hold up a mirror in front of her face and see if the mirror tells you she’s the fairest in the land.” Easton grimaced. “Better yet, see if she fits into a pair of your mother’s heels. Then you’ll really know you’ve got a winner.”
“Don’t make me call Aiden.”
Camille giggled. “I think that’s my cue to bow out of here before you start to question my mental standing. Good luck cramming for your test.”
“Thanks.”
She shut the family room doors so Easton could have some quiet to study, then crossed into the kitchen with a sudden hankering for popcorn. Easton’s had smelled good. She opened the cupboard and took out a package of kettle corn—her favorite. She slipped it into the microwave as Daegan came striding in wearing a sharp button-up shirt. She vaguely remembered ironing the shirt a few days earlier.
“Hot date with Macey tonight?” she asked. She punched the popcorn button on the microwave and turned to face him. Not everyone was having success in their relationships, but at least a few were.
“No Macey tonight. I’m taking out this new girl I met at church.” Daegan’s eyebrows danced with excitement.
“What?” Camille frowned. “Did you and Macey break up?”
“Break up? You have to be exclusive to break up,” Daegan said.
Camille blinked several times. “You’ve taken Macey out several times and domineered all her free time for nearly a month. That’s pretty exclusive.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Daegan shrugged. “Don’t freak out. I’ll probably take Macey out again next week.”
“You can’t make a woman think you’re dating her exclusively and then take someone else out. That’s...” Camille sputtered, her voice getting louder, as she tried to think of a word. Her pregnant brain was not the same as her prepregnant brain. She was a teacher, for crying out loud! “It’s being a player.”
“Did I hear thep-word?” Cade asked, sauntering into the room. “That’s a naughty word, Camille. I don’t think you should say that.”
